Log

Hello.

I bought an Audi 97 1.8T quatro just a day ago and I went to a dealer to pick it up today... all paperwork was done and I jumped in to a car and as soon as I went off the lot I heard weird cranking noise...
I turned around and went back to a dealership. They took the car to a mechanic and said that the problem is in Timing Belt Tensioner, and they will replace it alone with timing belt.
Although I took my money back I wanted to ask how common this problem on A4 97 1.8T quatro with 110,000 km (68500 miles) on it... How serious that is and could that damage the inside of the engine?

I am still think of buying a car if it's a common problem since the dealership will take car of it at no cost to me and the timing belt will be replaced too, so I won't have to worry about it, but if it a sing of worn out engine....

what do you guys think?

AudiMick

If this was an Audi Dealer I would have real doubts about them. The timing belt on the 97-99 1.8T's is an accident waiting to happen. They fitted a redesigned tensioner in 2000 and most cars have been retrofitted. At 6 years old and 69K this car was more than due for failure and any decent Audi dealer knows it.. I wouldn't buy it unless it had a all inclusive motor warranty.

ex-quattro PETE

so regardless if they spend $500 replacing the TB and tensioner or $3000 repairing bent valves caused by a failed TB tensioner, they will have to take care of it before they sell the car.

It is recommended that TB and tensioner be changed every 60K miles because these things are known to fail prematurely (long before Audi's recommended 100K or 120K mile change interval).

ex-quattro PETE

hey! I just noticed you also post on alt.autos.audi. Just saying Hi! :-)

2heretic

no one is that lucky.